Grand National Powered DeLorean (Buick 3.8L Turbo V6, non-intercooled)

[Rich W]

It's been almost a decade since my Grand National Powered DeLorean made it's TV debut on Monster Garage, Monster Nation in the Summer of 2004,
and it has been a few years since it had it's own thread, so with all the recent discussion (and eBay auctions) about Buick Turbo V6 powered DMC's,
this seemed like a good time to re-start this thread in my DeLorean Projects section. I will see if I can dig through my photo archives to find more
photos, from years ago, but I will start by posting several photos of when the car was last seen at a DCSevent, which would be DCS 2008.

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The first photo was taken as the engine refurb was being completed in Spring 2008. The next was on the trailer, ready to head out to DCS 2008.
The last two photos were taken at the indoor Car Show display at DCS 2008. IIRC, VideoBob got some video footage of me driving it at DCS 2008.

[Chris Burns]

Cool ride Rich! I'd like to see that one in person:)

[Domi]

Nice wheels :)

[opethmike]

Turbo on top of the engine? Odd, any heat soak issues?

[louielouie2000]

The DeLorean wheels center cap on top of the engine is a nice touch. :thumbup2: Same for the GNX-esque wheels.

I can't quite tell, but it looks like the entire engine cover is vented/screened?

[Rich W]

Turbo on top of the engine? Odd, any heat soak issues?

The donor engine is a basically stock appearing 1984 Buick 3.8L Turbo V6 (non-intercooled, also referred to as the "Hot Air" version).
The turbo is in the stock location as used on the front engine 1984/1985 Buick Grand National and the 1984/1985 Buick Regal T-Type.
Note: The turbo is relocated in 1986/1987 models (for intercooling) and the 1987 Buick Grand National GNX used ceramic turbo vanes.

As seen in the DCS 2008 car show photo, the engine cover has been modifield with a stainless steel mesh covering most of the engine,
which allows some of the extra heat from the turbo to "exhaust" away from the rest of the engine a little more easily than a stock cover.
While this option allows the turbo to be a little cooler than under the hood of a stock Buick Grand National, it is still a rather "hot" setup.

A little history about this car: VIN..17063 is a 1983 Canadian Spec (Metric Instrument Cluster) project car that was purchased from the
previous owner (Geoffroy Birtz) near Toronto, Canada in the Summer of 2002, as a non-driving car with known transmission issues.
In addition to the transmission issues, the custom bell-housing was broken in a few places, due to a lack of proper engine/trans. support.

This was one of the first big projects worked on in Dave Swingle's new garage (pre-Monster Garage Rock Crawler) and between repairing
the transmission end cover (nut "walked off" the shaft), repairing and reinforcing the custom bell-housing, fabrication of new, additional
mounts (between engine and transmission) and fabricating a pilot bearing mount, we also installed a new, stock DeLorean clutch assembly.

Other additional work included removing the alarm system (Dave insisted, lol - lots of wires), installing new Marty Maier KYB shocks and a
set of front lowering springs, new TAB's and new stainless steel brake lines. As for the interior, we installed a new turbo boost gauge and
disabled the aftermarket Canadian radio, which turned on and off whenever it liked, and when it did turn on, it was always at full volume.

More details (and photos) to follow. Other details and photos under the High Powered D section of my projects website on Tamir's website.

[Rich W]

The DeLorean wheels center cap on top of the engine is a nice touch. :thumbup2: Same for the GNX-esque wheels.

I can't quite tell, but it looks like the entire engine cover is vented/screened?

There is a reproduction auto shifter DMC logo on the top of the engine. The stock DeLorean wheel center caps were installed in the GNX-look wheels
with some special center insert adapters fabricated by Pearce Design. As stated in my previous post, the engine cover now has stainless steel mesh.

[Rich W]

All cleaned up and nowhere to go...that was the story for the Grand National Powered DeLorean for DCS 2004.
Parked next to the DCS 2004 Raffle Car, the GN D was already to go, until I blew a few trailer tires with D Rex.
Since I also had the GT40 Rock Crawler and the BTTF Prop Car Replica going to DCS 2004, I either ran out of
time, ran out of trailer space or ran out of extra drivers, since the DCS Raffle Car 'NEEDED' to go to DCS 2004.

Note: What started as an "auto-correct" error that stuck with me, so now I always use Waffle instead of Raffle
when referring to the DCS Raffle Car, so enjoy a few more photos of the GN D with the DCS 2004 Waffle Car.

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(Dave Swingle and I were doing some finishing work on the Waffle Car, which is why it was in the Chicago area)

[Rich W]

The 10th Anniversary of the Grand National DeLorean's debut at the Chicago World of Wheels was this past weekend.

The Grand National DeLorean was displayed with the Monster Garage GT40 Rock Crawler, in a "Backyard Monsters" themed display.

The Grand National DeLorean took First Place in it's class, while the GT40RC took 2nd Place, behind a "six-figure" Custom 4x4.

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[gulwng3]

The Grand National DeLorean took First Place in it's class, while the GT40RC took 2nd Place, behind a "six-figure" Custom 4x4.

Congrats Rich! Better start spending some big bucks on that GT40RC... :biggrin:

Andy

[Rich W]

Without getting too far off topic, it may be more the "location" and "who you display with" that can impact how you place in a class ...

The 10th Anniversary of the Monster Garage GT40 Rock Crawler display at the St. Louis World of Wheels will be at the end of this March.

Ron Wester's Screaming Yellow DeLorean was displayed with the Monster Garage GT40 Rock Crawler, in the "Backyard Monsters" themed display.

The Monster Garage GT40 Rock Crawler took First Place (Best in Class) in Custom 4x4 at the St. Louis World of Wheels show in 2004.

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Note: Thanks to Ron W., Marty M. and Jake K., for displaying their DeLoreans with the Monster Garage GT40 Rock Crawler a decade ago.